A cluster of COVID-19 cases has prompted a private school in Duncan to close its doors until February 1st, while students learn remotely. Duncan Christian School says exposures first reported on January 6th have affected a high number of staff, making it difficult to operate. The number of cases linked to the school has not been released, while Island Health has categorized the situation as a "cluster," which is less severe than an outbreak in which transmission is likely widespread. A letter sent to members of the school community says Island Health would contact any students or staff identi

British Columbia's top doctor says production delays for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are a temporary setback that will slow down the delivery of first doses in the province over the next few weeks. But Dr. Bonnie Henry says B.C. is still on track to vaccinate its most vulnerable residents by the end of March, ahead of a significant expansion of the province's immunization program in April. She says a shortfall of about 60,000 doses of vaccine should be made up in March. B.C. has recorded 1,330 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday, including 301 in the last 24 hours, the lowest single-d

Search and rescue volunteers are praising the actions of a teen who spent several hours lost in the backcountry over the weekend. The South Cariboo Search and Rescue Society says the 17 year old made responsible choices when he found himself separated from his group of snowmobilers on Saturday. The youth dug a snow cave, and thanks to the food and water he was also carrying, was warm and comfortable while awaiting rescue.He got separated near Mahood Lake, about 80 kilometres east of 100 Mile House. Fellow snowmobilers called search and rescue when their own two-hour search failed to find the

The BC government says enhanced driver's licences and enhanced ID cards for non-drivers will be phased out over the next five years. A statement from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General says the program has not been offered since ICBC curtailed services as the pandemic began last March, and interest in the specialized cards was already plummeting by then. The travel cards allow Canadians to enter the United States at land or marine crossings without presenting a passport but the ministry says other travel documents such as the NEXUS card are more popular, cost less and remain

BC Liberal MLA Mike Bernier has been appointed Chair for the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, a committee tasked with scrutinizing the economy,effectiveness and efficiency of government organizations and auditing reports from the Auditor General. "It is an honour to be appointed as the Chair of this committee and I look forward to stepping into this new role," said Bernier, BC Liberal Finance Critic and MLA for Peace River South. "British Columbians put their trust in the government to spend public funds wisely, which makes this committee’s responsibility to hold the government

Surrey Police Service announces the appointment of the second of three Deputy Chief Constables. The latest Deputy Chief Constable to be hired by the Surrey Police Service is Mike LeSage who brings exemplary service, expertise, and leadership in operational and cultural diversity policing. His anticipated start date with the Surrey Police Service is early February 2021. Deputy Chief Mike LeSage brings over 24 years of policing service that is local, national, and international in scope. He has worked in a variety of divisions across the nation from large urban centers to small, isolated fly-in

More people appear to be taking to cold-water swims as a way to beat the COVID-19 blues. Victoria's Andy Bernhart says when he started taking cold ocean dips at Willows Beach there were only a few diehards, but people are now flocking to the chilly water. He says a cold-water swimmers Facebook page he started in Victoria has grown to 258 members.He said this growth has occurred in about a year and other groups are also boasting more swimmers. Bernhart says a jolt of cold water can help relieve pandemic-related stress and depression.

BC reported 509 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the province's total to 60,117. There have been nine new deaths from the virus since the province's last update. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a joint statement that there are 4,604 active cases of COVID-19. They say residents must continue to work together as short-term production delays affect the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. So far, 75,614 people have received COVID-19 vaccine shots in BC. 349 people are currently hospitalized, of those 68 are in intensive care.

Search and rescue crews say they have found an Instagram influencer who got lost yesterday in Cypress Mountain Provincial Park. According to fresh reports, the woman has died. North Shore Rescue says the 21 year old identified only as an influencer from Toronto named Nikki got lost on the Howe Sound Crest Trail yesterday. It says she had posted from the top of St. Mark's and was located late this morning in a steep drainage. Rescue crews said she would have to be flown out but there was no word on her condition. Message posted by North Shore Rescue on Facebook before Nikki was found: (NSR is